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Professional diploma in sustainability

Embrace change and realise your true potential – with ACCA’s Professional Diploma in Sustainability

Overview

Solar panels

Sustainability: it’s the future of our profession. That means that to stay relevant, you need to upskill in sustainability now – or risk being left behind.

Do it with our new Professional Diploma in Sustainability. Sign up today to stay ahead of new regulations and become a sustainability leader, with the expertise to build and deliver sustainable strategies in your organisation.

Across four certificates, you’ll gain in-depth knowledge of sustainability frameworks and ethics, sustainability strategy and management, sustainability reporting and sustainability assurance. Then, through a final exam, you’ll be awarded a Professional Diploma – and gain the credentials you need to excel.

But your Diploma isn’t just about furthering your career. It’s essential for your future – and that of our profession. With it, you’ll be able to shape bold new strategies, and make innovative business decisions that will help to protect people, the planet and society.

Change is here. But there’s nothing to fear. With ACCA by your side, you can stay on top of regulatory standards, expand your skill-set, and achieve all your sustainability goals. So why wait?

On undertaking the learning and completing the diploma, exam learners should be able to:

  • explain the concept of sustainability, its importance, and the need for regulatory frameworks
  • explain the importance of ethical principles and apply ethical guidance as a sustainability professional
  • explain the need for alignment of an organisation’s sustainability strategy and evaluate sustainability-related opportunities and challenges
  • analyse business decisions, key risks, and performance from a sustainability perspective
  • assess the role of information systems in the provision of sustainability-related data and reporting
  • prepare and analyse sustainability reports, explain the interactions between sustainability reporting frameworks and the impact of sustainability on the financial statements
  • explain frameworks, current issues, and developments in relation to sustainability assurance and the challenges encountered at each stage of a sustainability assurance engagement.

It’s everything you need to drive positive change and help build a better world.

The Professional Diploma in Sustainability is designed for professional accountants and auditors working in practice or business who seek a comprehensive understanding of sustainability – and an accreditation to prove it.

It is open to all ACCA members and future members, qualification holders of other IFAC member professional accountancy organisations, or individuals interested in gaining practical insights into how sustainability issues and regulations impact organisations.

Although there are no specific entry requirements for admission to the diploma, it is worth noting that the syllabus content and assessment may be challenging for candidates who do not have any accounting knowledge.

The Diploma comprises four courses, each of which can be taken as individual Certificates in Sustainability. This flexibility allows candidates to choose the approach that best suits their needs.

Candidates can either study separately for all four individual Certificates and then take a final, overarching exam to receive the Diploma, or they can approach the Diploma as a single, integrated learning programme, comprising four courses and a revision and practice module.

The certificates are:

  • Certificate in Sustainability Frameworks and Ethics
  • Certificate in Sustainability Strategy and Management
  • Certificate in Sustainability Reporting
  • Certificate in Sustainability Assurance

To achieve the Diploma, candidates will sit an integrated case study exam that tests their application of knowledge across the core areas of the syllabus. Once completed, the Diploma will serve as a comprehensive accreditation in the core areas of sustainability.

A learning bundle is available that contains all four certificates and is priced at £950 for ACCA members and future members (£1300 for non-ACCA).

The examination fee is £300 per sitting for both members and non-members and is payable directly to the exam provider at the time of booking.

Examination sessions will be available on a set date in March, June, and December in 2025 and then during our June and December exam sessions from 2026 onwards. A booking window for the March 2025 sitting is expected to open in November 2024. Exam booking details will be available here as soon as the exam entry opens.

For those taking the exam in March 2025, an exam preparation pack will be provided starting in January 2025.

Our new Professional Diploma in Sustainability is one of a kind – designed to meet the needs of your business.

Make sure your finance team can adapt to new and incoming regulations, with the in-depth knowledge and credentials they need to excel. And with flexible learning, they can do it in a way that works for them – and your business.

Register your teams today – and together, we’ll help you stay on top of regulatory standards, expand your skills, and embed truly sustainable practices throughout your organisation. What are you waiting for?

Register your interest or request more information.

 

Pricing and booking information

Price

ACCA member price 950 GBP

Public price 1300 GBP

Location

Global

Date & time

On demand

Book on ACCA Learning

Course provider

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